Double Monk Conundrum

I've been looking for a great double monk for a while, and living in NYC affords me some excellent opportunities to find good quality shoes. However, I think the two shoes I'm leaning towards are the C+J Lowndes and the Carmina DM in the Inca last from the Armoury. I much prefer to try a product on before I buy, so that is affecting my decision as well. How do these two models compare?

Does anyone know what the retail price is of the Lowndes in the NYC store? I'm thinking about trying it on and ordering from Pl*l if it much cheaper from the latter. I do feel a tad guilty even thinking about that tactic, as it seems a bit deceptive to the sales staff, but it may need to be done. I look forward to getting some response.

I've owned both the Lowndes and the Carmina Inca Last DM. The Carmina has a better finish all around IMO and looks more elegant in person. The chiseled/elongated toe box of the Lowndes never worked for me. The Carmina would suit a wider foot better as well.

Thank you everyone for the responses so far. Fred, the PS looks interesting. I've never seen it before, but I pass the store everyday on my way to work and will definitely stop in to try it on sometime soon.

Kmarotta, how much longer is the toe box on the Lowndes than the Inca? For someone with a large foot (two actually) this may look off (I'm a 12US). When you say the C+J fits a wider foot better, does that mean the last simply has more room?

The Lowndes are chiseled and snub-nosed in a way that can only be experienced in person. It is inelegant and dated.

Just pop into the C&J store, deal with their frankly trying service, and check it out. I have a large foot, not as large as yours, and even for me they just seemed freakishly long. Elven. If you're a 12, I can't imagine them not looking like torpedoes on you. No amount of trouser can conceal that elongation.

As for the Carmina Inca last, it is a bit more spread out in the ball of the foot before the end of the toebox. But be warned, everyone likes to say this model is "roomy," but it still has an aggresively rounded taper. It's not chiseled and more sinusoidal... but still. You might experience some small toe pressure depending on whether you size up or down. I wore those earlier today; they're a fine shoe, albeit a little attention-grabbing. Still, by all accounts they're more tasteful than the C&J Lowndes.

The Lowndes are chiseled and snub-nosed in a way that can only be experienced in person. It is inelegant and dated.
Just pop into the C&J store, deal with their frankly trying service, and check it out. I have a large foot, not as large as yours, and even for me they just seemed freakishly long. Elven. If you're a 12, I can't imagine them not looking like torpedoes on you. No amount of trouser can conceal that elongation.

As for the Carmina Inca last, it is a bit more spread out in the ball of the foot before the end of the toebox. But be warned, everyone likes to say this model is "roomy," but it still has an aggresively rounded taper. It's not chiseled and more sinusoidal... but still. You might experience some small toe pressure depending on whether you size up or down. I wore those earlier today; they're a fine shoe, albeit a little attention-grabbing. Still, by all accounts they're more tasteful than the C&J Lowndes.

You have been warned.

I've been looking for a double monk also...looks as though Carmina has to double monks, one on the Inca last and another on the Simpson last. The Simpson Last looks very similar to the Lowndes.

Kmarotta, how much longer is the toe box on the Lowndes than the Inca? For someone with a large foot (two actually) this may look off (I'm a 12US). When you say the C+J fits a wider foot better, does that mean the last simply has more room?

sprout has already addressed this for the most part. The Lowndes in a 12US are going to look pretty elongated.